May
17

Kakehashi Project - Concerto for Taiko and String Orchestra Premiere

Saturday, May 17, event starts at 3:30pm, concert at 6pm
Kensington Ampitheater
59 Arlington Ave, Kensington, CA 94707

The Kakehashi Project is a new commission from Collective Counterpoint for taiko soloist Kohtaro Yamakawa and composer Erika Oba, written for taiko and string orchestra. Premiering on May 17th 2026, at the Kensington Community Center, the work bridges Japanese drumming traditions with the sound world of Western classical strings, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange and artistic discovery.

More info here
Fundraising page here

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Apr
4

Erika Oba Trio and Ruthie Dineen's RDL+ at the Jazzschool (PianoLove)

Saturday, April 4, 8pm
The Jazzschool
2087 Addison St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Ticketing link

My piano trio (Chris Bastian, bass; Jeremy Steinkoler, drums) will be sharing the bill with my dear friend and extraordinary pianist Ruthie Dineen, who will be bringing her own group. Our double bill will be part of a series at the Jazzschool celebrating "PianoLove"! Very excited to be part of this series, and this is the only show my trio will be doing this spring so I hope you are able to make it out! We will be doing some selections from our recent Japanese-themed music concert, as well as some of our favorite tunes by legendary jazz pianists (Carla Bley, Thelonious Monk, and others)! 

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Dec
18

History, Memory, Circumstance - A Japanese American Story

Thursday, December 18, 6pm

Clarion Performing Arts Center

2 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, Ca 94108

Tickets: $10

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/history-memory-circumstance-a-japanese-american-story

I'm very honored and excited to be participating in this one! This performance is a personal reflection by Joyce Nakamura, a Sansei activist who recounts her immigrant family's struggle 

to belong in the USA while facing racism, economic hardships, and incarceration. The music is composed by Jon Jang and will feature his Jangtet ensemble alongside guests Francis Wong and I. It's also a rare opportunity for me to get to perform with my sister, Hitomi Oba, so I hope you're able to join us! This one will likely sell out so I recommend you get your tickets early. 

Joyce Nakamura:  Narrator

Hitomi Oba, tenor saxophone

Nick DePinna, trombone

Erika Oba, piano and flute

Gary Brown, double bass

Deszon Claiborne, multiple percussion

Francis Wong, guest artist on tenor saxophone

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Dec
7

Erika Oba Trio ft. Brian Wong at Oaktown Jazz Workshops

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Dec
4
to Dec 5

Chris Trinidad Residency at Wyldflowr Arts

Night #1 (12/4) ATOM ensemble, Night #2 (12/5) Chris Trinidad Collective

Night #1: ATOM Ensemble

Thursday, December 4, 7:30pm

Tickets: $10-20

https://www.viewcy.com/event/chris_trinidad_reside

ATOM Ensemble (Kevin Amos on drums, Chris Trinidad on bass, Erika Oba on flute/piano, Roopa Mahadevan on vocals) is back at Wyldflowr! We have some exciting new music ready to share as we gear up for our album recording session later in December. 

Night #2: Chris Trinidad Collective

Friday, December 5, 7:30pm

Tickets: $10-20

https://www.viewcy.com/event/chris_trinidad_reside_1

Chris Trinidad leads his own band on night #2 of his Wyldflowr residency. Chris' music draws on a wide range of disparate genres including Cuban Timba, Original Pilipino Music, British Progressive Rock, and Gregorian Chant. 

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Oct
24

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipples

Erika Oba Trio with special guest Tim McKay

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipple's
Sets at 6pm and 7:30pm
39 Fell Street (between Van Ness & Polk)
San Francisco, CA 94102

Erika Oba (piano), Chris Trinidad (bass), Jeremy Steinkoler (drums), Tim McKay (sax)

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Jul
29

Erika Oba Trio at SF Union Plaza

Jazz in the Neighborhood presents a free outdoor concert music series this summer in SF Union Plaza. Come out on Tuesday, July 29 to see Erika Oba (piano), Chris Bastian (bass), and Kevin Amos (drums).

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Jul
27

ATOM Ensemble at Oaktown Jazz Workshops

ATOM Ensemble formed in 2025 during a residency at Wyldflowr Arts in Oakland. Drawn together by their shared interest in exploring diaspora through music, the band integrates their multifaceted musical and cultural heritages to create new cultural pathways.

Roopa Mahadevan, vocals
Erika Oba, piano/flute
Chris Trinidad, bass
Kevin Amos, drums

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Jul
13

Hitomi and Erika Oba - Phil Gelb Masumoto Peach Dinner Night #2

  • 1131 24th Street Oakland, CA, 94607 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Vegan chef Phil Gelb curates a four course meal using Masumoto peaches, with an improvised set of music by Hitomi (tenor sax) and Erika Oba (flute).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masumoto-peach-farm-menu-vegan-thai-flavors-with-hitomi-and-erika-oba-tickets-1311421359589?aff=erelexpmlt

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Jul
12

Hitomi and Erika Oba - Phil Gelb Masumoto Peach Dinner Night #1 (Sold Out)

  • 1131 24th Street Oakland, CA, 94607 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Vegan chef Phil Gelb curates a four course meal using Masumoto peaches, with an improvised set of music by Hitomi (tenor sax) and Erika Oba (flute).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masumoto-peach-farm-menu-vegan-with-hitomi-oba-and-erika-oba-performing-tickets-1256084746289

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Jun
29

Zen of Glenn at Oaktown Jazz Workshops

Glenn Horiuchi was a musician, zen practitioner, mathematician, and community activist who made music to celebrate his Japanese American heritage and to bring attention to important social causes including the redress and reparations movement in support of wrongfully incarcerated Japanese Americans during the Second World War. His music drew from the rich history of the African American experimental avant-garde, having been mentored by or collaborated with bassist M’Chaka Uba, trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith, trombonist and composer George E Lewis, and saxophonist Joseph Jarman–all members of the Chicago-based Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). This project features Francis Wong’s arrangements of Horiuchi’s music. Wong was a long time collaborator of Horiuchi, and alongside bassist Chris Trinidad, formed this ensemble to give new life to Horiuchi’s music.

Francis Wong, tenor saxophone
Chris Trinidad, bass
Erika Oba, flute/piano
Helen Palma, voice
Carrie Jahde, drums

$20 suggested donation at door
More info here

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Jun
22

Matt Small's Crushing Spiral Ensemble at Mr. Tipple's

Matt Small brings The Crushing Spiral Ensemble back to Mr. Tipples, for an exciting evening of cutting-edge new music featuring some of the Bay Area’s most innovative musicians.  Small is an award-winning bassist/composer/producer/founder, and has been composing for and leading The Crushing Spiral Ensemble as one of his main projects in the SF Bay Area for over 25 years.

Matt Small  | Bass/compositions
Steve Adams | Tenor
Cory Wright | Alto
Chris Grady  |Trumpet
Erika Oba | Piano
Jon Arkin | Drums

Tickets: 6:00pm / 7:45pm

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Mar
21
to Mar 22

Oba Mahadevan Collective at Wyldflowr Arts

Oba-Mahadevan Collective
Wyldflowr Arts | 809 37th St, Oakland, CA
Presale tickets available here

Friday, March 21, 7pm doors/7:30pm start
Saturday, March 22, 7pm doors/7:30pm start

I've been working with vocalist Roopa Mahadevan for several years now in different projects, and I couldn't be more excited to be coleading this band with her. Roopa is a virtuoso vocalist trained in Carnatic music who has also done a lot of jazz and improv, and we connected over our mutual interest in exploring diaspora through music. We'll be joined by Chris Trinidad on bass and Kevin Amos on drums for an exciting set weaving together Indian music, Japanese folk music, jazz, and more!

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Mar
8

Zen of Glenn Album Release show at Bird and Beckett

Saturday, March 8, 7:30pm
653 Chenery Street, San Francisca

Francis Wong leads this group in tribute to the late, great Glenn Horiuchi. It's been a truly inspiring and educational experience to immerse myself in Glenn's body of work. Alongside Francis, are band members Chris Trinidad (bass), Carrie Jahde (drums), Helen Palma (vocals), and myself (flute, piano, melodica). We're excited to share our new album with the world! 

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Mar
1

Nora Free Liberation Quartet at the Backroom

Saturday, March 1, 8pm
1984 Bonita Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704

Tickets available here

Nora Free is a jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, and experimental improvisor based in Oakland, California. Her music explores the intersection of improvisation, spell-casting, and spiritual ritual. Her latest project, Liberation Quartet, is a musical love letter, a statement of sonic intentions to aid in the struggle of all beings toward equity and justice. This performance will feature original compositions, and new arrangements of pieces by Geri Allen, Joni Mitchell, and Mary Lou Williams.

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Feb
15
to Feb 16

World Premiere - Meguru: Dreams of Harvest with the Fresno Philharmonic

The Fresno Philharmonic presents the world premiere of a new work - Meguru: Dreams of Harvest - by California composers Hitomi Oba and Erika Oba inspired by the life and writings of Fresno author and organic peach farmer David “Mas” Masumoto. This performance is the culmination of a two-year project called Cultural Crossroads: Kisetsu (“Seasons” in Japanese). Pianist Barry Douglas returns to the Fresno Philharmonic for Rachmaninoff’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 2.  The concert concludes with Shostakovich’s light-hearted Symphony No. 9.

Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 3:00 pm

Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall
2770 E International Ave, Fresno, CA 93730

Tickets available here

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Feb
2

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipple's

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipple's
Sunday, February 2
Sets at 5pm and 6:30pm
39 Fell Street (between Van Ness & Polk)
San Francisco, CA 94102

Erika Oba (piano), Chris Trinidad (bass), Jeremy Steinkoler (drums)

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Nov
22

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipple's

Erika Oba Trio at Mr. Tipple's
Friday, November 22
Sets at 6pm and 7:30pm
39 Fell Street (between Van Ness & Polk)
San Francisco, CA 94102

Erika Oba (piano), Chris Bastian (bass), Jeremy Steinkoler (drums)

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Past Events